Ahead of the era of 20 million foreign tourists per year, trends in domestic tourism this year saw dynamic shifts. Big data analyses by the Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Data Lab and Data Plus, a platform of the telecom giant LG Uplus, show that such visitors no longer go to just the popular spots but opt for "dailycation," a neologism combining the words "daily" and "vacation," to better experience the Korean lifestyle and sentiment.
Despite such changes, the top spots are firmly occupied by Myeong-dong and Hongdae. Both areas have long been the favorite destinations for foreign visitors, with this year's statistics attesting to their continuing popularity. In the first half of this year, Myeong-dong attracted 4.5 million international visitors to lead all others and Hongdae was fourth with 3.4 million. Myeong-dong's fame has also spilled over to the nearby Gwangjang Market and Euljiro, further raising the area's status.
By Lee Jeongwoo and Park Dae Jin
Photos = Lee Jeongwoo and Park Dae Jin
Myeong-dong: nation's top tourist destination
Crowds of international visitors on Dec. 10 walk around Myeong-dong Street in Seoul’s Jung-gu District.
Myeong-dong has retained its dominance as the No. 1 spot for foreign tourists and their spending. With 4.5 million visitors in the first half of this year alone, the neighborhood has further solidified its status as the country's top shopping area for such tourists not only from China and Japan but also Southeast Asia, the Americas and Europe.
Starting point for Korean beauty and cosmetics
Foreign tourists on Dec. 10 try cosmetics at the K-Beauty Experience Center in the Myeong-dong neighborhood of Seoul’s Jung-gu District.
Myeong-dong's street vendors and interactive retail centers lead domestic beauty trends not just through sales but also experiential content like makeup demonstrations and skin diagnostics. The area also features many trendy brands of clothing and accessories, offering a one-stop shop for foreign tourists to experience and purchase Korean beauty.
Boom in retro Korean food
Gwangjang Market in Seoul's Jongno-gu District on Dec. 10 bustles with a wide range of food choices and many hungry diners.
Visitors to Myeong-dong are increasingly exploring the nearby Gwangjang Market, which offers a more Korean vibe thanks to higher demand for authentic street food and the atmosphere of a traditional markets fueled by the popularity of Korean content on streaming sites like Netflix. The number of foreign tourists visiting the market has thus surged.
Unearthing hidden gems in Euljiro, aka 'Hipjiro'
This selfie taken on Dec. 10 shows an alley of Euljiro Street in Seoul’s Jung-gu District.
Adjacent to Myeong-dong, the Euljiro area is growingly popular for its unique cafes, restaurants and bars nestled in the alleyways of old printshops, with tourists, earning kudos as an Instagrammable spot from foreign visitors. Young tourists from abroad seem enthusiastic about Euljiro for blending the country's nostalgia with its modernity, a departure from the trendiness of Myeong-dong.
Heart of youth culture: Hongdae street
Hongdae, a trendy area around Hongik University in Seoul’s Mapo-gu District, on Dec. 10 is packed with visitors both from home and abroad.
Known as the heart of the country's youth and culture, Hongdae is a prime venue of Korea's dynamic youth culture focused on independent fashion brands, busking by singers and dancers, and unique boutiques. Visitors there prefer to find their own style and individuality instead of at large shopping malls while experiencing the lifestyle, culture and fashion of Korean youth.
Emerging hub of medical tourism
A pharmacy staff member on Dec. 10 gives an explanation to two customers in Hongdae of Seoul’s Mapo-gu District.
Hongdae is also emerging as a hub for medical tourism given its excellent accessibility to Seoul's two main airports, abundant accommodations and concentration of top-quality beauty and medical centers. The area is especially attractive for resting, shopping and cultural experiences while recovering from beauty or health treatments.
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